~6~
Kitty walked down the stairs and onto the barroom floor. Sam was behind the bar cleaning glasses. "Good morning, Sam."
"Morning, Miss Kitty."
Kitty made her way through the tables to the bar and stood in front of the coffee service. "Has Will been down this morning?"
"No, ma'am, I haven't seen her."
Kitty poured herself a cup of coffee, picking the cup up along with the newspaper next to it, taking them to a near by table. She opened the paper up and started reading it.
Will walked through the full doors of the Long Branch and saw Kitty. "Morning, Kitty." She hailed as she closed the door to keep the cold out.
Kitty looked up from the paper at Will. "Well what have you been up to on such a cold day?"
Will walked over and sat down at the table. "I needed to give my horse some exercise."
"Would you like some coffee?" Kitty asked.
"Yes, thank you."
Kitty looked over at Sam, "Sam, can we have another cup of coffee over here please."
"Sure thing, Miss Kitty." Sam poured a cup of coffee and brought it to Will.
"Thank you, Sam." Will told him as he sat the cup in front of her.
"You must be feeling better to be out in cold riding." Kitty indicated.
"I am."
The full door opened again and Festus came into the saloon. "Boy howdy, it shore is powerful cold out there."
Kitty smiled. "How about some coffee to warm you up, Festus?" Kitty offered.
"Much obliged, Miz Kitty." Festus went over to the bar and poured himself a cup of coffee.
Kitty noticed Will looking at Festus. "Will, you remember Festus. I don't think you two have officially met, have you?"
Festus walked over to the table and took a seat across from Will and next to Kitty. "We only got around ta part of the introducin'."
"That was my fault, Festus." Will explained.
"Ah shucks, I don't blame ya none, as ya was feeln' so poorly."
Kitty watched as the two interacted, she couldn't put her finger on it, but something wasn't quite right between them.
"Well, I can't thank you enough for what you did for me." Will conveyed to Festus.
Will held Festus's eyes just a beat too long before she took a drink of her coffee, but it was enough for Kitty to notice.
"Miss Kitty told me you was headed ta warmer weather."
"Not until she's seen Doc." Kitty ordered.
"When's Matthew and Doc due back?" Festus wondered.
"Tomorrow." Kitty answered.
"Who's Matthew?" Will probed.
"Matthew's the Marshal here in Dodge." Festus told her.
"I hear tell that you help the Marshal out, and Deputy from time to time." Will remarked.
"Mostly when he has ta go outta town, or needs help watchn' a prisoner in the jail is all."
"Nothing wrong with helping to keep the town safe." Will said with admiration.
Kitty sat silently drinking her coffee, as she watched Will and Festus. The two barely noticed that she was at the table, and she was starting to feel like a third wheel. "If you two will excuse me, I have some work to do in my office."
Festus stood up when Kitty got up from her chair. "I need ta get over to the jail and spell Newly from watching those rustlers he done brought in last night."
"Alright," Will said, trying not to sound disappointed.
"I'll be seen' ya, Miz Kitty."
"See you later, Festus." Kitty told him as she headed towards her office.
Festus looked at Will." "Will ya be here later after I spell Newly?"
"You bet," Will smiled warmly at him.
Festus tipped his hat and left the saloon.
A few hours later Kitty came out of her office and stood at the end of the bar surveying the room. There were a few customers drinking at the bar then she spotted Will sitting at a table near the back of the saloon reading the newspaper.
Sam walked to the end of the bar where Kitty was.
"How's it going, Sam?" Kitty asked.
"It's been pretty quiet."
Kitty inclined her head towards Will. "Has she been there all afternoon?"
"Yes, ma'am. She's gone over just about every inch of that paper." Sam told her.
"It's time for your dinner break, so I'll take over for you." She told Sam.
Sam took his apron off and set it on the back bar "I won't be long, Miss Kitty."
Kitty walked behind the bar. "It's quiet, so why don't you take some extra time. There's no rush, Sam."
"Ok, thank you," Sam grabbed his coat and hat from the office hallway and left the saloon.
Kitty busied herself with cleaning glasses and serving the occasional drink for about an hour. She looked over at Will and saw that she was staring off into space with a concerned look on her face while she absently tapped her index finger on the table. Kitty put the bar towel, she was holding, under the bar and headed to Will's table.
"Trying to figure out the world's problems?" Kitty asked her.
Will leaned forward, closed the newspaper that lay open in front of her, and looked at Kitty. "Not hardly," She smirked. "Just reading about them."
"Can I get you something to drink?"
"Beer sounds good." Will reached into her pocket, and tossed a coin on to the table in front of Kitty.
Kitty reached down and pushed the coin towards Will. "My treat."
Will shook her head, picked up the coin, and held it out to Kitty. "You've been more than hospitable to me. I'd feel better paying my way if you don't mind."
Kitty took the coin from Will. "Ok," she smiled, and headed to the bar. As Kitty was pouring Will's beer, she saw Festus enter the bar and head straight to Will's table raising her eyebrow at his behavior.
"Howdy, Will." Festus greeted with a big smile as he sat down next to her.
"You all done with looking after prisoners?"
"Yep, the Sheriff in Hays picked 'em up just a bit ago."
Kitty approached the table and served Will her beer.
"Thank you, Kitty."
Festus tipped his head to Kitty as he eyeballed Will's beer.
Kitty didn't miss the look he was giving the mug of beer. "Can I get you something, Festus?" She asked wondering how he was going to try to get a free drink out of her this time.
Festus took a coin out of his vest pocket and handed it to Kitty. "Beer'd be nice."
Kitty looked at the coin Festus had just handed her with astonishment.
Festus saw the look on Kitty's face. "Someth'n wrong with that there coin, Miz Kitty?"
Kitty clutched the coin in her hand amazed that Festus had paid for a drink without anyone goading him into doing it. "No! No." Kitty told him before turning and going back to the bar to put the coin in the cash box. She poured the beer and brought it to Festus.
Will and Festus had the checkerboard out and setting it up for a game.
"Thank you, Miz Kitty."
Kitty looked at Will. "Careful, Will, he cheats."
"I'll take my chances." Will declared.
Festus gave Kitty an exasperated look. "For a looksome woman you sure have a powerful mean streak in ya."
Kitty pressed her lips together to keep from laughing, "So you've told me."
Kitty looked at Will. "Don't say I didn't warn you, Will." She tossed out as she went back to the bar.
Will and Festus had each won a game and were setting the board up for the third game, when two men walked in and one bellowed "Two whiskey's Sweetheart," at Kitty catching Festus's attention. He kept an eye on them as he made a move on the checkerboard.
Kitty, on the other hand, gave the man a look that said she was not amused. "The name is Kitty Russell, you best remember it." She told him with authority as she poured their drinks.
"Ok, Kitty." The loud man said, unimpressed, as he turned his attention to one of Kitty's girls standing next to him at the bar.
Will sat in silence as she watched Festus and Kitty. She could tell neither one of them cared for the men. She continued to watch as the loud man named Avery started getting handsy with the saloon girl, but it was his friend named Powell standing on the other side of the girl that gave Will caution. She was about to tell Festus as much, when the loud mouthed, handsy one grabbed the girl by the arms and kissed her as she struggled to get free.
"Let her go!" Kitty ordered.
"Wait your turn, Red." Avery sneered.
Festus jumped up and went over to the bar. "The lady told ya to let her go." Festus told Avery as he stood next to him.
Avery let the girl go, and she quickly moved across the bar.
"She yours?" The loud mouth asked Festus.
"That ain't none of yore bizness." Festus told Avery as he moved to stand in front of him.
"Look fella, what's she doing here if not for entertainment?" The loud man said, taking a step back from Festus.
"Look, mister, my girls are here to entertain the customers, not be manhandled." Kitty told Avery.
"I wasn't causing her any harm." Avery groused.
"Peers ta me like ya was." Festus said, taking a step forward.
"Look, mister, you can stay here and drink as long as you don't cause any more trouble." Kitty told Avery.
"Don't you worry none, Miz Kitty, I'll make sure this here yahoo behaves."
Will had been intently watching the whole exchange. She stood up when she realized the Avery was moving Festus away from his partner. She moved closer to bar when she saw the partner position himself directly behind Festus as the loud man distracted him.
As Will continued to assess the situation, she rubbed her thumb across the pads of her fingers on her right hand and moved to have a better line of sight on Powell who was standing behind Festus.
Avery stood up to his full height. "You ain't gonna make me do nothing, hillbilly."
Festus took a step closer to Avery. "Look here, yer gonna behave or I'm gonna get on you like ugly on a ape."
"You calling me an ape, you inbred hillbilly." Avery taunted.
"Ya best simmer down, or yer gonna find yourselves laid out on this here floor when I get done wit ya."
Will was diligently watching the whole exchange while keeping an eye on Powell, when a movement by the front door caught her attention. She flicked her eyes towards the door, and saw that Sam entered the bar. Her eyes no sooner went back to the man behind Festus then Will saw Powell draw his gun and fire at Festus.
Will reacted in half a heartbeat, drawing her gun and firing it at Powell. Unlike Powell, her hand was steady and her aim was true as the bullet hit Powell's gun on the cylinder, sending the gun flying out of Powell's hand onto the floor.
Sam saw the whole thing and quickly picked up Powell's gun and pointed at him. "Don't move."
When Will's gun went off, Avery reached for his gun, but Festus was quick to see him reach for the gun and pulled his own gun pointing it at the man. "Don't you move a lick." He told Avery as he took his gun from him.
"Festus, are you alright?" Kitty asked, with a worried look.
"I'm fine. He missed." Festus replied.
Festus looked over his shoulder. "Sam, help me take these yahoos over to the jail."
Sam took Powell by the arm. "Let's go," he said as he pushed the man towards the door.
"Alright, lets get go'n, ya mouth." The man headed to the door with Festus close behind him. "Marshal Dillon will deal with you in the morn'n."
Kitty watched as Festus and Sam left with the two men, her employee walked over to the bar. "Are you ok, Selma?"
"I'm ok, but do you mind if I go home for the night?" Selma asked Kitty.
"Not at all. I'll see you tomorrow."
As soon as Selma left, Kitty went over to the end of the bar where Will was now standing. "You knew he was going to shoot Festus in the back."
Will nodded her head. "I've seen it before. One man will be the distraction so the other can shoot him."
Kitty grabbed a bottle of whiskey and two glasses from under the bar, placing one glass in front of Will and the other in front of herself. She poured the whiskey into the glasses setting the bottle aside.
Will picked her drink up and slammed it back in one swallow.
Kitty raised an eyebrow. "What another one?" She asked.
Will shook her head and started to reach into her pocket.
"Don't even think about it." Kitty told her. "Will, I am thankful for what you just did for Festus. He might have been killed if you hadn't been so quick to act."
"I hope the Marshal sees it that way."
Festus and Sam came back into the bar joining Will and Kitty at the end of the bar. "Newly locked 'em up for Matthew to deal with when he gets back." Festus informed them.
Kitty looked at Sam. "I'm glad you came back from dinner when you did, Sam."
Sam looked at Will, "Well, if I'd been a few moments later, I'd have missed the fastest draw I've ever seen. You're faster than Marshal Dillon, Will. You shot that pistol out of his hand so fast he didn't know what happened."
"I'll say," Kitty agreed.
Sam noticed how uncomfortable Will seemed and changed the subject. "I'm going to start cleaning up, Miss Kitty."
"Ok, Sam."
Kitty looked at Festus. "Can I buy you a drink, Festus?"
"Much obliged, Miz Kitty."
Kitty poured Festus a glass of whiskey.
Festus looked at Will. "I'm mighty beholdn' to ya." He told Will.
Kitty saw a hint of longing in Will's eyes as she looked at Festus, and quietly moved away to give the two some privacy.
Will gave Festus an alluring smile. "How beholding?"
"How's bout I buy ya a drink?" Festus proposed.
"Oh I think you could find a better way to show your gratitude. Don't you?"
Festus gave Will a baffled look.
"I'll be in my room when you, ah... come up with it." Desire clear in her voice.
Festus watched as Will walked across the bar, climbed the stairs and crossed the landing before disappearing into the upstairs hallway.
Festus turned and leaned his elbows on the bar and starred at his drink.
Kitty walked up and leaned on the bar across from Festus. "Festus? Can I talk with you for a minute?"
"Sure, Miz Kitty
"You have feelings for Will, don't you?"
Festus looked up at Kitty. "Does it matter to ya if'n I do?"
Kitty smiled at him. "You can tell me to mind my own business, but I've seen the way you two look at each other."
"Ain't much gets past ya, does it?"
"No," she smiled. "I happened to hear what Will just said to you."
Festus looked slightly embarrassed. "Miz Kitty, I want ya to know I never-"
Kitty held her hand up to stop Festus. "Festus, your love affair is none of my business."
"I know'd that."
"So what is bothering you?" Kitty asked.
"Well this here bein' your place and such. Well…" Festus couldn't find the words.
"Festus, you don't need my permission to be with Will."
"Miz Kitty, I just cain't be a waltzing up them stairs for all ta see."
"Oh." Kitty stood up, grabbed her handbag from under the bar and pulled out a key. Kitty placed the key on the bar in front of Festus.
Festus looked at the key. "What's this here fer?"
Kitty pointed to the key. "That's my key to the back stairs private entrance." She explained with a wink.
Festus picked the key up and looked at Kitty. "If… if you're sure I got yer leave."
"You got it."
Festus stepped up onto the bar rail, leaned over the bar and kissed Kitty on the cheek. "Thank ya kindly, Miz Kitty." He told her and left out the front door.
Will sat on the edge of her bed leaning forward with her elbows on her knees as she looked at the bedroom door. It had been a bit since she came upstairs, and she was beginning to wonder if Festus was going to join her. Figuring that she should have made her intentions more clear with Festus, she removed her boots and pants, sat back down on the bed and removed her shirt. Will was about to turn down the bed to go to sleep, when there was a light knock at the door. "Come in."
Festus opened the door and no sooner closed it than Will rushed into his arms wrapping her arms around his neck. "Whoa there, what's this heren' all about?" He asked as he wrapped his arms around Will, who was trembling slightly.
"I've been wanting to hold you like this since you came back from the jail."
Festus continued to hold Will. "No harm came ta me; you done saw ta that."
Will reached up and held Festus's face in her hands as she looked into his eyes. "I don't want to think about that, I almost missed seeing him draw when Sam walked in."
Festus saw a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Thinkn's not what I come up here fer."
Festus kissed her slowly, gently, and full of tenderness, his hands softly caressing her body while his lips ravaged hers.
No other man on earth had ever kissed Will like Festus was. The things he could make her feel with those lips of his. She never knew a kiss to be such heaven until his lips met with hers. Festus left her head spinning and her knees a bit weak.
Will wrapped her arms around Festus's neck pulling him closer to her as she ground her hips against his. She could feel his growing erection as she did, arousing her even more. Her hands traveled down his body to the waist of his pants tugging at his shirt pulling it out of his pants.
Their desire was building like a wildfire. In one swift movement, Will found herself lying in the middle of the bed on her back, with Festus kneeling between her legs. Their passion ignited into a roaring inferno that burned far into the night.
TBC